Reservation in Promotion case: Madhya Pradesh Government asked not to create hurdles

December 3, 2016

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Government earlier this week, submitted an application in the Supreme Court of India urging that the hearing in the “Reservation in Promotion” case be taken up in January 2017.

The hearing in the “Reservation in Promotion” case could not be taken up in Supreme Court on 30 November as per schedule since hearing in two other cases was continuing that day.

SAPAKS (general category, OBC and Minorities officers and employees society) has taken a very strong view on the tactic adopted by the State Government in Supreme Court and has alleged that the State Government is siding with a particular category of government officers and employees and is contininuously making efforts to delay the outcome of the “Reservation in Promotion” case. Even earlier the Government had sought 4-week’s time from the Supreme Court in this case but the request was turned down and 23 November was fixed for the next hearing due to stong objection raised by the lawyers representing SAPAKS.

SAPAKS office bearers today met State Minister Vishwas Sarang in the State capital and presented him a memorandum addressed to State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Minister assured the SAPAKS delegation that their demand would be looked into.

SAPAKS has conveyed to the chief minister through its memorandum that the State Government is neglecting the interests of Government employees belonging to the general category, OBCs and minorities, who constitue more than 75 per cent of the total strength of State Government employees. It has also been pointed out that due to the “unconstitutional” provision for reservation in promotion enforced in 2002, hundreds of thousand government employees belonging to the general category, OBCs and minorities have retired without getting even a single promotion.

After several years of legal battle, the Jabalpur High Court on 30 April this year had declared as null and void the Reservation in promotion rule. Following the High Court order, hope was generated among employees and officers adversely affected by this rule. But the Government decided to prolong the matter and filed an SLP in Supreme Court ignoring that the High Court order was in tune with the letter and spirit of directives of the apex court.

SAPAKS has underscored the point that the case is prolonging as the State Government is continuously demanding more time and in the process thousands of government servants are being denied promotion and were retiring.

SAPAKS has made an appeal urging the Government not to delay justice by the court because already the employees from the general category, OBCs and minorities have been denied promotion for last 14 years. SAPAKS has issued the ultimatum that the employees and officers would be forced to launch a protest if the Government continues to put new hurdles in the path of justice.